The Observer, Volume LVI, Issue 22 3/21/25

News: Bird flu flies into CWRU (pg. 2)

The Case Western Reserve

Observer

Friday, March 21, 2025 Volume LVI, Issue 22 Est. 1969

SPORTS

Men’s basketball triumphs over Carnegie Mellon, all-time school and league records set by Trunley Abhishek Nambiar Staff Writer

In their final game of the season, the Case Western Reserve University men’s basketball team triumphed over Carnegie Mellon University, finishing this away game in Pittsburgh with a final score of 110-104. With this win, the Spartans finish their 2024-25 campaign with a 9-16 overall record and a 5-9 record in UAA play, finishing with a fifth-place tie in the league standings.

“It was one of the craziest, highestscoring games I’ve played in,” said third-year guard Anand Dharmarajan, who finished the game with a personal-best 27 points, shooting 9-of-15 overall and notching 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. “I thought we played great on offense, which had been a struggle at some points in the season, and a lot of guys stepped up and played really well to help us win.”

Undeniably the biggest star of the show was fourth-year guard Sam Trunley. In this final game of his collegiate career, he scored 51 points to set new single-game and single-season records for CWRU along with the most points ever scored by a player in a UAA game, breaking the record of 49 points set in 2012 by the University of Chicago’s Matt Johnson. Trunley made 15 of his 21 shot attempts in the game, including 7 successful 3-pointers out of 11 attempts—one shy of his school record.

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Phillip Kornberg/The Observer

NEWS

CWRU community stands up for science

Students, professors attend protest against Trump administration policy Vani Subramony News Editor On March 7, members of the Case Western Reserve University community participated in a walkout to support and defend science against threats from President Donald Trump’s administration. The walkout, Stand Up For Science, took place in more than 30 cities across the United States, including Washington, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. National organizers cite several policy goals of the walkout, such as securing and expanding scientific funding and defending diversity, equity and inclusion in STEM fields.

The walkout at CWRU was primarily organized by members of the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES). Because

In response to changes to research funding enacted by the Trump administration, protests have arisen in over 30 cities, including Cleveland. At CWRU, many students and faculty members organized on Freiberger Field. Vani Subramony/The Observer

the event occurred on campus, organizers were not allowed to use sound amplification equipment. Instead, volunteers wearing shirts that read “Advocate” led chants every 10-15 minutes and circulated throughout the crowd with pamphlets outlining the goals of the walkout.

One of the advocates there was a CWRU student representing BMES, who requested to remain anonymous. They got involved with organizing the event because they saw how national policy has affected the CWRU population. “A lot of people are getting laid off, a lot of programs are cutting the number of PhD students they get,” they said. “In my lab, a lot of experiments have been stopped, so I feel like politics and science should be kept separate spheres.”

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News

The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, March 21, 2025 observer.case.edu Volume LVI, Issue 22

Bird flu flies into CWRU Elie Aoun Director of Print On March 4, the Case Western Reserve University community was greeted with an alert warning that geese around Wade Lagoon may have contracted bird flu. A followup alert on March 6 confirmed cases of bird flu among the Wade Lagoon geese.

“The Ohio Division of Wildlife

is sending a specialist to Wade Lagoon to investigate suspected avian flu, as multiple geese have been found dead or exhibiting symptoms of illness,” the March 4 alert read. While the message noted that there had been no cases of humanto-human transmission, it advised strongly against touching “any birds/geese or their surroundings.”

The March 6 alert said, “While the risk to the general public is low, the Case Western Reserve Univer-

sity campus is now considered an affected area, so it is important to take precautions.” It recommended disinfecting shoes if one has walked through an area with significant goose feces.

On Feb. 12, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) reported the first case of someone in the state being infected with bird flu; the man lives in Mercer County, which is on the western edge of the state, and he was reportedly in contact with dead

Two dead geese lie in Wade Lagoon, likely victims of bird flu. CWRU students started noticing sick geese in late February, but the presence of bird flu was only confirmed in a March 6 alert.

Tyler Sun/The Observer

commercial poultry.

The ODH’s statement said that “[t]here are no known cases of human-to-human transmission” of bird flu. Its advice for the general public is to “avoid direct contact with wild birds or sick or dead poultry or other animals” and to “[c]ontact your local health department or local veterinarian for further guidance before you approach sick or dead poultry or wild birds.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that “getting a seasonal flu vaccine only prevents seasonal flu and will not protect against H5N1 bird flu.”

There is currently no publicly available human vaccine for bird flu.

On April 1, 2024, the CDC reported the case of a person in Texas who contracted bird flu from contact with dairy cows. As of March 18, 17 states have reported outbreaks in dairy cows across 989 herds, most of which are in California.

The downstream effects of the bird flu outbreak have been most felt in the price of eggs. In the last few months, egg prices have risen because of the culling of many chicken flocks, exacerbating a problem that was present throughout the 2024 presidential election.

Despite bird flu, however, the price of eggs has fallen more than $3 since March 5, with the average dipping below $5 for a dozen eggs.

Many brands of cat food have been recalled due to potential contamination, while egg-based flu vaccines are safe because they come from flocks that are isolated from the disease.

Per the CDC, there have been 70 cases of bird flu in the United States and one death as of March 19. The current public health risk is classified as “low.”

CWRU community from page 1 They hope that walkout attendees will take what they’ve learned and challenge others to consider the farreaching impacts of science. “People who come will mostly be in favor of standing up for science, but there would be a lot of people who are in between opinions,” they added.

“It would be very amazing to have someone go out of here or walk by and just see all of this and be willing to spark conversations with others who are less open on the topic.”

Jürgen Bosch, a scientist at the CWRU School of Medicine and cofounder of a biotech startup, hopes the protest will bring more attention toward the damage being done to science by the Trump administration. “It will be to the detriment of the general population of the U.S.—have it cancer treatment for anybody, Republican or Democrat,

doesn’t matter—people die if you don’t have the resources available for either educating people or doing research,” he said. Bosch mentioned the importance of research in developing the accepted understanding of how the world works. “Scientists have the advantage that we base our stuff on facts, and it’s not a madeup idea of someone,” he added. “We have peer review, so various people validate your results from different continents or different institutions.

And, by doing so, we enrich and force what is correct.”

Another attendee, Kate Zerefos, is employed at the Cleveland Clinic as an undergraduate researcher.

Her lab is funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She heard about the walkout through fellow researchers and decided to attend to express solidar-

ity against threats to scientific and clinical research. “Even a pause or a slight cut to scientific funding could have really catastrophic effects, even if you think that there is something that needs to change in NIH funding,” she said. “A slight pause or change in the grant cycle could impact the next grant cycle, and then the grant cycle after that, and that could affect a whole generation of researchers, even if that wasn’t the intended effect.”

David Wilson, a professor of biomedical engineering and event organizer, agrees that there is an attack on science which could have far-reaching impacts. “The way things are going, it could really impact the United States in the future,” he said. “A lot of innovations from NIH-funded research have helped save lives. Over 99% of drugs can

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be linked back to NIH-funded research. and here at Case Western we’re developing all kinds of wonderful things. There’s a real economic impact.” Wilson hopes that event attendees will talk to their friends and family and push for legislative change. “Going into the future, we need to make sure that people vote in a way to support science, and I’m asking everybody to call our representatives,” he said. “I’m hoping that the representatives’ phone lines are clogged after the event.”

Wilson expressed hope that CWRU will continue to unite in support of science. “Our school of medicine is one of the most outstanding ones in the country. Our Department of Biomedical Engineering, we are quite proud of that, we do all kinds of innovative things,” he said.

“We cannot be strangled by policy.”

Life

The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, March 21, 2025 observer.case.edu Volume LVI, Issue 22

Bizarre bird names: What were they thinking?

Aambar Agarwal Social Media Manager Days are getting longer, trees are blooming and the sun is finally back—spring is here. The daily pollen count is steadily increasing, wreaking havoc on those of us with environmental allergies, and birds are back to squawking and tweeting away to their hearts’ content, no matter the time of day. From Northern cardinals’ vibrant chirps to black-capped chickadees’ highpitched whistles, blue jays’ loud jeers to mourning doves’ soft coos and even Canada geese’s nasal honks to red-bellied woodpeckers’ incessant drumming, the air is alive with the calls of Cleveland’s birds.

While Cleveland is home to many resident and migratory birds, there are thousands of bird species in the world. Countless ornithologists and

casual bird watchers have named them, drawing from people’s names to words in different languages. And thanks to their efforts, we have the blue-footed booby, little bustard, American bushtit, dickcissel, grey go-away-bird, European shag, common loon, sad flycatcher, Andean cock-of-the-rock, monotonous lark and Satanic nightjar—not to mention the tinkling cisticola, fluffybacked tit-babbler, plain chachalaca and green mango. What were they thinking? Well, despite how bizarre the names sound to our modern ears, each name was derived from the bird’s calls, behaviors, appearance and cultural perceptions.

For instance, blue-footed boobies are named for their bright blue feet and foolish nature. The latter part of their name comes from the word “bobo,” which is Spanish for “foolish.”

Clumsy on land and fearless of humans, the silly seabirds reside along

the eastern Pacific Ocean and feast on fish, causing their colorful feet.

Meanwhile, the little bustard is the smallest of the bustard family, which is known for its slow and deliberate walk. Derived from the Latin phrase “avis tarda,” bustard literally means “slow bird.” It lives in Southern Europe and Western and Central Asia, and often prefers running over flying.

The American bushtit is named for its woodland habitat and small size. “Titr,” an Old Icelandic word, means “something small.” The tiny songbird perches upon trees and shrubs across North America. Another songbird, the dickcissel, is known for its distinctive call. The name replicates the sharp introductory notes and following fast warble of its song, “dick-cissel.” Found across the Americas, the yellow-tinged bird spends its time in grasslands. Similarly, the grey go-away-bird is named for its comical alarm call. Loud and

nasal, the call sounds like a sped-up “go away.” Smokey grey with a wispy crest, this bold bird lives in Southern Africa.

The same goes for the other wacky bird names and even Cleveland’s own birds. Every bird’s name has a meaningful story behind it. Interestingly, some species are being renamed—specifically, the ones named after people. Rather than having unique, detailed names, these birds honor enslavers, White supremacists and grave robbers. Who would even want to associate a confederate general with an innocent bird? Now, the American Ornithological Society is in the process of changing their names to be more descriptive, just like our silly birds.

So, the next time you see or hear a bird, consider looking it up—you never know when you might stumble upon a hilariously spot-on bird name.

“Mickey 17” has it all: Laughter, romance, an indictment of late-stage capitalism and two Robert Pattinsons Kate Gordon Life Editor After “Parasite” became the first non-English language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2020—and snagged another three Oscars that year, including Best Director—there was a fair bit of pressure riding on South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon Ho’s next flick. Although delayed twice due to the actors’ and writers’ guild strikes of spring 2023, the science fiction comedy “Mickey 17” finally debuted on March 7 to decidedly mixed reviews. I was surprised to see so much criticism for the film as I really enjoyed it, but reading through some of the responses from audience members and critics helped me understand the problem. People were expecting another “Parasite” from Bong, and “Mickey 17” is no “Parasite.”

I don’t mean to say that it would’ve been impossible for “Mickey 17” to measure up to its predecessor’s success; rather, the two films had different intended purposes from the start.

“Parasite” was, for lack of a better phrase on my end, a “serious” movie.

It did have many staples of the “popcorn” film genres, like humor and suspense and graphic violence, but Bong used these with a far lighter hand than in “Mickey 17.” “Parasite” was intended to hold a mirror up to the uncomfortable, grim reality of our society’s class divisions, whereas “Mickey 17” is an irreverent satire of these same systems. Plus, the latter was Bong’s first-ever big-budget project with a major Hollywood studio—it was always meant to be a blockbuster first and foremost, and far more appealing to the average American moviegoer than “Parasite.” “Mickey 17,” to me, is kind of like if Bong did a Marvel movie. It’s going to be the best Marvel movie you’ve ever seen, but it’s not going to win Best Picture again.

Looking at the film through this lens, let’s get into the plot. In the year 2054, Mickey Barnes (Robert Pat-

Robert Pattinson delivers an outstanding performance in “Mickey 17,” playing both Mickey 17 and Mickey 18—two characters who are polar opposites of each other—bringing their contrasting personalities to life.

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures tinson) signs up to be an “expendable” on a space colonization mission headed to the planet Niflheim.

With the help of a high-tech cloning machine that reprints a person’s body and uploads their previously backed-up memories, the job of an expendable is to die over and over and over again, and often slowly and painfully. Mickeys 1–16 succumb to radiation poisoning, disease, a shot to the head and a number of other horrible fates not shown on-screen.

One Mickey is even thrown into the incinerator while he’s still alive because trying to nurse him back to health would be too much of a hassle. This terrible cycle would have continued uninterrupted if not for an unexpected error: Mickey 17, left for dead on Niflheim’s icy surface, comes back alive only to find that Mickey 18 has already been printed.

One of the standouts of the film is Pattinson’s performance as both Mickeys. Any fans of the actor will know that Pattinson is a really weird dude who’s unfortunately been pigeonholed into playing straightlaced, conventionally handsome characters for most of his career.

“Mickey 17” finally lets Pattinson play someone who’s a bit of a freak, and two freaks at that. The best way I can describe Mickey 17 is that he’s

a loser—he speaks in a strangely squeaky New York accent and avoids confrontation even in life-or-death situations, of which we know he has far too many. Mickey 18, on the other hand, is a murderous psychopath who does whatever he wants when he wants to. The two characters couldn’t be more different, giving Pattinson a rare opportunity to show off his range.

The rest of the cast is equally strong, though given less room to play than Pattinson. Naomi Ackie is a clear standout; she plays Mickey’s love interest Nasha, a fiercely loyal security agent. Most action movies struggle with how to treat their female lead, especially when she’s the love interest; directors know that 21st century audiences won’t react well to a damsel in distress, but they also don’t want to write a woman whose strength and competency overshadows that of the male protagonist. Nasha is not only tender and tough, she actually plays a vital role in the climax of the film.

I realize that this doesn’t sound like much of an accomplishment, but having seen too many films fail on both counts, her portrayal honestly stands out.

Apart from Ackie and Pattinson, Toni Collette does a great job play-

ing the expedition commander’s cruel, vapid wife, and Mark Ruffalo is decent as the commander himself.

Ruffalo plays the ship’s buffoonish dictator as a one-to-one translation of President Donald Trump, which provides a decent portion of the film’s comedic relief. It’s a killer impression and injects a healthy dose of realism into this otherwise satirical film, but I do wish Ruffalo had given a less one-dimensional performance as his Trump voice gets old quickly.

The film’s final two strengths are its humor and, to the surprise of no one familiar with Bong’s work, its indictment of late-stage capitalism. The humor in “Mickey 17” isn’t simple comic relief sprinkled in at opportune moments or nuanced, subtle humor; it’s a solid throughline, and the jokes had my audience genuinely laughing out loud. Both Mickeys had great one-liners: My favorites were, after Mickey 17 is dragged away by a monstrous mother alien to feed her children, “Wow, what a great mom” and Mickey 18’s “oopsie” when confronted by the person he tried to murder. As for the film’s class critique, it’s far from subtle thanks to Ruffalo’s Trump, but the allegory’s lack of nuance doesn’t make it any less powerful, at least in my opinion. Bong isn’t known to pull punches when it comes to displays of human cruelty, and “Mickey 17” looks unflinchingly at the suffering of the working class under capitalism.

All said, “Mickey 17” is a solid movie that does a great job engaging its audience. While I encourage Case Western Reserve University students to see the film in theaters, I would be remiss not to mention that due to the film’s poor box office performance, it is forecasted to be available to stream in the imminent future—it will already be available to rent next Tuesday, March 25. Whichever method you choose though, I encourage you to give the film a watch. Even if “Mickey 17” doesn’t get you to think as deeply as “Parasite” did, I’m sure it will get you to laugh.

4 Life

Friday, March 21, 2025

An insider’s guide to making the most out of your study abroad experience Lessons learned from trips around the world Anthony Wiles Contributing Writer Studying abroad has always been a goal of mine and one of the reasons I was drawn to Case Western Reserve University. The Office of Education Abroad offers a multitude of shortand long-term study abroad opportunities that I think all students should try to take advantage of. I have been fortunate enough to study abroad twice during my time here at CWRU: First, this past summer at The American College of Greece, where I studied for two and a half months, and currently with IES Abroad in Rabat, Morocco, where I have been studying and living since February.

In the summer of 2024, I was a recipient of the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, one of the most prestigious study abroad scholarships in the country. The Gilman Scholarship specifically serves Pell Grant awardees, helping low-income, first-generation and other underrepresented college students to achieve their study abroad dreams. As part of receiving my scholarship, I wrote this article to help other students learn the tips and tricks to help make the most of their study abroad experience. Whether you’ve already applied to a program, are about to study abroad or want to do so but don’t know where to begin, it is my hope that my insight and experience will help turn your dreams into reality.

Scholarships and funding My study abroad experiences would not have been possible if not for the scholarships and financial aid I received. One of the first steps to starting your study abroad journey is applying for scholarships and seeking out funding sources to help actualize your goals. You don’t have to do this alone! No matter how much—or how little—money you have, studying abroad is absolutely a possibility.

CWRU’s Office of Education Abroad offers so many scholarships and will help you find outside resources as well, such as the Fund for Education Abroad, which matches students with several scholarships all in one application. My amazing advisors, Cami Ross and Kevin Sullivan, both worked with me to find funding sources and connected me with various scholarships both at CWRU and in the wider community, including the Gilman Scholarship.

Beyond scholarships, the Office of Financial Aid is a helpful on-campus resource that can assist you with budgeting and funding your experience abroad. Working with the counselors there showed me the types of aid I could use to help fund my programs and eased so much of my financial anxiety about studying abroad. Additionally, I was able to set realistic financial goals and save up for the many experiences I wanted to have while abroad. Sticking to my budget, seeking out funding sources and realizing that I couldn’t and didn’t have to figure this out on my own have been incredibly impactful. Because of this support, I have been able to have the most life-changing opportunities while studying abroad, all without worrying about my finances—a true breath of fresh air.

All photos courtesy of Anthony Wiles Traveling on a student budget Whether you decide to embark on solo trips, tag along with a group of friends or even meet up with other folks you may know around in the world, traveling beyond your host city and country makes for some of the most rewarding experiences you can have while studying abroad.

Through your travels, you will learn so much more about yourself and the world, unlocking new opportunities that you couldn’t have imagined before. For example, thanks to a weekend trip to Tangier during my summer study abroad, I decided to come back to Morocco to study—the best choice I could have ever made!

So far, I have had the opportunity to also visit Paris, Istanbul and several regions in Morocco. I am looking forward to upcoming trips to Lisbon, Toulouse and Montreal among other cities, as well as a return to Istanbul, which I can easily say is my favorite city on the planet. You never know what opportunities and adventures may be waiting for you beyond your host city. I was able to do this all on a student’s budget due to saving and following the tips I outlined below.

Initially, I was intimidated by the perceived high costs and inaccessibility of international travel while studying abroad, but I learned a few tips and tricks that not only allowed me to travel without fear of breaking the bank but also to do so multiple times. Take advantage of travel deals and discounts, especially for students. Don’t be afraid to use third-

party sites such as Trip.com, Hostelworld, Booking.com, Kayak and StudentUniverse, which offer all kinds of savings. Many airlines also have stopover programs where you can explore cities in their base country for little or no additional cost, with Turkish Airlines and TAP Air Portugal both being well known for this. Additionally, student discounts are offered by almost all transit companies, including buses, trains and planes. Look into the variety of transportation methods used in your host country and reach out to the staff of your program to find the most efficient, cost-effective and reliable options for you. Incorporating a variety of transit means is not only budget-friendly but can also offer new ways of exploring your host country or other nations and oftentimes get more of a local experience than what can be experienced in the confines of an international airport.

Cultural engagement The best way to immerse yourself and get the most out of your study abroad experience is via cultural engagement. By far the most rewarding parts of my study abroad experiences have been from meeting locals in the places I have studied and traveled and immersing myself in the culture of my host country. One of the best ways to do this is to find a program that offers a homestay option and/or provides opportunities to meet with local students and peers in your host country. Whereas I lived in a university dormitory during my first study

abroad experience, this time around I knew that having a homestay was one of my primary study abroad goals.

Since arriving in Morocco nearly two months ago, I have been welcomed into and immersed in the beautiful culture of my host country by my extremely loving and caring host families (one during orientation, and the other I am living with during the semester). From sharing delicious foods—such as chicken tagine, chebakia and harira—to listening to Gnaoua music, learning traditional dances and observing Ramadan with my new family, I have made so many cherished memories in my homestay experience. It is definitely the highlight of my time in Morocco. This remains true even despite an initial language barrier, as my Arabic skills are still quite novice, thankfully pushing me out of my francophone/ anglophone comfort zone. I have found ways not just to converse, but to truly communicate with people in my host country.

Connecting with locals and practicing your language skills can make for some of the most impactful study abroad experiences. For semesterlong programs, CWRU students are required to learn the language of their host country. However, it is imperative to practice these skills beyond the classroom—and preferably beyond the confines of shops or in public transit. Connecting with your host country via language is a beautiful and rewarding experience that will give you lasting memories and attachments to your study abroad locale. My biggest regret from my first study abroad experience was not learning the language and immersing myself as much as I could in my host community.

Studying with other Americans/ English speakers can make it easy to stay in an anglophone cultural or linguistic bubble while abroad, especially if you are experiencing culture shock or homesickness. However, I implore you to expand beyond the familiar—this is truly what studying abroad is about. Take opportunities to meet and engage with the people in your host country, whether through local cultural programming, a homestay or classmates in your university. Here in Rabat, I have made several friends in my program as well as with local university students. This has been helpful for learning Arabic and furthering my competencies in French. Additionally, I take every opportunity I can to engage with local cultural events and organizations, learn more about life and culture in contemporary Morocco and seek out beautiful displays of heritage and community.

So, if you made it to the end of this article and are still on the fence about studying abroad, the only thing I can say is this: Do it! Trust me, you will not regret this experience, and it will easily become one of the hallmarks of your college years. I cannot overemphasize how life-changing studying abroad is. You will learn and discover so much during your time abroad, and the lessons, memories and relationships you make will be part of your life well beyond your college years. So here’s that last final push to seeing your dreams come true! Bon voyage!

Fun

The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, March 21, 2025 observer.case.edu Volume LVI, Issue 22

THE WORST CASE SCENARIO Pulling an all-nighter A concerned citizen It’s warm outside, the birds are singing and the Cleveland sky is—for once— blue. Spring has officially sprung! But you know what that means: Finals are lurking just around the corner, sharpening their claws. And before finals?

There’s plenty of time for some last-minute cramming and scrambling to resuscitate your GPA from its tragic downward spiral.

This week’s column tackles a beloved Case tradition: the all-nighter.

At some point in your college career, you’ll face a grim choice: embrace the night with a 12-hour library lockdown, watching the sunrise through the pages of your OChem textbook, or blissfully sleep and bring tissues (and perhaps a personal prayer) to the exam. But why settle for one sleepless disaster when you can string together multiple all-nighters like a caffeinated human Christmas light?

We here at The Observer have sacrificed many REM cycles to bring you this hard-earned wisdom. Behold, our foolproof tips for surviving the academic abyss: 1. Caffeine is your best friend … and worst enemy. Sure, a Starbucks Venti will keep you alert, but it’ll also have you sprinting to the bathroom like you’re in a high-stakes Olympic event. Balance out that latte lifeline with some good oldfashioned water. Hydration may not be glamorous, but neither is the aftermath of a caffeine crash.

2. Misery loves company. The buddy system isn’t just for kindergarten field trips. Find a study pal to suffer alongside you. Just be wary of descending into gossip purgatory. Yes, it’s tempting to spiral into a passionate analysis of why the girl behind you in Religion has a vendetta against you, but remember: She’s probably studying, and she’s going to ace that exam.

3. Breaks are mandatory. And no, obsessively checking your grades on Canvas doesn’t count. Get up, stretch, eat something that isn’t exclusively sugar and caffeine. If the existential dread becomes overwhelming, scream into the void or challenge a squirrel to a staring contest.

Then, with your spirit renewed (or just slightly dulled), return to the grind.

4. Embrace creative excuses. Can’t bear to face the test? Enter: the timeless, the iconic, the ever-reliable “I have food poisoning” excuse. Just vague enough to escape suspicion but powerful enough to buy you those precious extra hours of panic-studying or blissful unconsciousness. Bonus points if you dramatically clutch your stomach in public for added effect.

Of course, the moral of the story is don’t pull all-nighters. But life is unpredictable, and so are new episodes of "Lost" (or whatever Gen Z equivalent you binge at 3 a.m.). Sometimes, you just have to endure the academic crucible.

So next time you find yourself in a fluorescent-lit purgatory, fueled by fear and Red Bull, remember these tips. Happy studying—and may the caffeine gods be ever in your favor.

Top 10 Observer Spring Break Experienes 10. Flight being canceled because a tornado started while you were at the airport.

9. MCAT studying.

8. Wisdom teeth removal.

7. Spraining foot.

6. Trying to make jello shots and failing.

5. Being hospitalized because you went in the ocean with a blister on your foot.

The Jumble INMONI _____________ REGIT ______________ LEWBO ______________ NUOPIACORC ______________ LERONSOFIPAS ______________ SRELIEU ______________ HEEBTAR ______________

4. Trip being cancelled because of an outbreak of Ebola.

3. Moonshine tasting.

2. Throwing up all over the back of the club.

Very Hard

1. Leaving the beachfront club to sprint across the sand about to vomit, desperately aiming for the water but heroically failing halfway there—leaving both dignity and dinner in the sand.

Oh look, a rhyme!

“Wow, this class is a ‘Bohr’,” I think as I start to snore.

Don’t know what I’m hearing, Screw engineering, I guess I’ll just work as a whore.

Please e-mail limericks to observer@case.edu.

6 Fun

Friday, March 21, 2025

Crossword ACROSS

Edited by Will Shortz PUZZLE BY ALISON OHRINGER AND ERIK AGARD

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3/19/25, 10:34 PM

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ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE Sudoku - New York Times Number Puzzles — The New York Times

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60 63

67

45 51

52

58

61 64

65

66

68

70

24

32

35

53

13

28

31

42 47

12

20 22

29

11

17

19

21

62

9

15

18

46

8

69 71

72 4/17/19

71 City in West

Yorkshire 72 N.B.A.’s Young, familiarly

DOWN 1 Troublemaker 2 Stop sign shape 3 Sacrifice of

square footage for location, e.g.

4 ___ Keller, first deaf and blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts 5 PC alternatives 6 “He still the ___” (lyric in Beyoncé’s “Countdown”) 7 Word before and after yes, in the military 8 Below-the-belt campaign tactic

9 Long (for)

40 Toy for a windy

day in modern slang 41 Ingredient in a melt 11 Image next to a 45 Kneecap user name 12 Most socially 46 Close chicas conscious 47 Read over 13 Comfy pants 48 Dance done to 16 Not much light the 2015 hit can get through it “Watch Me” 19 Grammy-winning 50 Not new James 52 Started listening, 23 Bewildered with “up” 26 Wild hog 54 As well 27 Not satisfied, as 55 It gets bigger in expectations the dark 28 “___-daisy!”

56 Accident-___ 31 Actor Idris 58 The sky, perhaps 34 Media lawyer’s 61 That woman’s specialty 63 Broadcaster of 36 Roll with a hole “Wait Wait …

Don’t Tell Me!” 37 Sound of failure 65 1950s prez 39 Broken bone 66 Guided revealers 10 Song one loves,

Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 9,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year).

Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay.

Fun 7

observer.case.edu

Weekly Horoscope What type of bird are you?

Aries

Taurus

Libra

Scorpio

Wade Lagoon geese (dead)

Blue-footed booby

Satanic nightjar

Plain chachalaca

Gemini

Cancer

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Monotonous lark

Grey go-away-bird

Fluffy backed-tit-babbler

Common loon

Leo

Virgo

Aquarius

Pisces

Monotonous lark

Andean cock-ofthe-rock

Duck

Cow

8 Fun

Friday, March 21, 2025

Explore the outdoors!

Meet the animals in your own backyard!

Spring has sprung, the birds are back and even the Cleveland sky is giving us a rare glimpse of blue. With the grass growing and flowers blooming, local wildlife is out in full force. You might even spot some baby bunnies attempting parkour in your garden soon. But wait—who else is lurking around campus? Let’s take a safari through Case Quad and see what we can find.

Administrators

Squirrels

The undisputed rulers of campus green spaces. You’ll see these jittery little acrobats climbing trees, digging questionable holes or dramatically scolding passersby for no reason at all. While most are gray, brown or red, there’s always a chance of spotting the mythical hairless squirrel, Cleveland’s version of Bigfoot.

Want to get close? Just find a shady spot on the Quad and stay still—they might mistake you for a tree. Bonus tip: Watch your snacks. They are thieves, and they have no shame.

Art students

A rare sighting indeed. During spring, a few may venture outdoors, but if you spot one approving a budget cut, it’s best to observe from a safe distance. While they are rumored to serve some function, their actual contributions remain as elusive as the hairless squirrel. When they do emerge, it’s often to announce another tuition hike or unveil a campus master plan that benefits no one but the construction companies. If you’re lucky, you might catch one approving a budget cut while claiming it’s in the interest of "student success." Best observed from a distance, they tend to scurry back to their offices once the scent of accountability wafts through the air.

Freshman

As the snow melts, so do their boundaries. Freshmen, who spent the winter months confined to the far-off northern tundras, can now be found roaming freely near Fribley Commons and the Elephant Stairs. You can spot them by their precariously balanced backpacks, oversized water bottles and Discover Days shirts.

Easily identified by their sketchbooks, easels and that distant gaze that says, “I’m contemplating the color blue on a spiritual level.” Cleveland Institute of Art students emerge in the spring to capture nature’s finest blooms for their next project. Though native to the northern reaches of campus, you may find them as far south as Rockefeller, in search of the perfect artistic muse. Approach with caution; interrupting an artist mid-sketch is like poking a bear.

Computer programmers

These elusive creatures are harder to find in the daylight. You may catch a glimpse of them scurrying between Nord Hall and Olin Building, shielding their eyes from the sun. Notice their dark glasses, hoodies and the unmistakable scent of stale Red Bull. If you’re committed to the hunt, venture out at night and follow the eerie glow of their laptop screens.

So there you have it—your official guide to campus wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled, your snacks secure and enjoy the wonders of nature … even if half of it is just procrastinating like the rest of us.

Math cartoon

Opinion

The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, March 21, 2025 observer.case.edu Volume LVI, Issue 22

Ozempilemma Catherine Choi Staff Writer Ozempic’s introduction to the weight-loss drug market was supposed to be a fresh and hopeful arrival for people struggling with type 2 diabetes.

When the drug gained FDA approval for diabetes management, there arose a new mechanism of managing blood sugar. Nowadays, however, it is being treated as a weight loss solution for all those who can afford it. The ability of the drug to promote substantial appetite loss has helped it gain widespread off-label use for obesity and even cosmetic weight loss in non-diabetic people. There is nothing inherently wrong with wanting to shave off a few pounds to attain a healthier lifestyle.

However, using a prescription drug meant to aid patients with diabetes for weight-loss—which can typically be achieved with lifestyle changes—is questionable. While it is true that similar semaglutide drugs, like Wegovy, have been approved for adult obesity, these drugs have become too popular among people who may not necessarily need it. Thus, an ethical question is raised: Should GLP-1 agonists be reserved for those with a medical need, or is its use for weight loss justifiable given the obesity epidemic? Being able to distinguish between medical necessity and cosmetic desire becomes tricky, thus raising an ethical dilemma over who deserves it more.

It is important to understand the mechanism by which these drugs encourage weight loss. They mimic a natural hormone known as GLP-1, which helps the body release more insulin from the pancreas, slowing down the movement of food through the stom-

Jana Ashour/The Observer ach and promoting the feeling of satiety, therefore, suppressing one’s overall appetite. Doctors aim to prescribe the drug to patients who are struggling to manage their diabetes through diet changes and exercise habits alone.

As of recently, the word “Ozempic” has become associated with celebrities and influencers who have taken a liking to the drug’s effects. For example, in 2023, celebrities like Elon Musk publicly credited Ozempic for its effectiveness in aiding weight loss, sparking a trend among people seeking quick slimming solutions. This fueled a surge in off-label prescriptions, often for individuals who weren’t obese but wanted to shed a few pounds. This increased demand for the drug and the ensuing shortage did not matter to consumers. As a consequence, diabetic patients who rely on the drug to

manage their condition have no access to it. In fact, not too long ago in Australia, several diabetes patients had to ration doses or import alternatives when Ozempic became scarce due to rising demand for weight loss purposes. The drug is not affordable either. On average, patients without insurance coverage pay $1,000 for a month’s supply of the drug which includes 4 doses of the medication as injections. Many insurance companies and plans choose not to cover off-label use for weight loss, making it inaccessible to lower-income individuals. Wealthier individuals using Ozempic for weight loss may inadvertently drive up costs and limit access for those who need it the most, widening healthcare disparities.

While several studies show Ozempic’s effectiveness for considerable weight loss and diabetes control, its

long-term effects remain under investigation. Because Ozempic was developed for managing blood sugar, longterm data on its use as a weight-loss drug is scarce, which raises concerns about potential health complications that could emerge after years of its use.

Currently, the potential side effects include nausea, vomiting, pancreatitis, gallbladder disease and thyroid cancer risk. These side effects are by no means minor and often take months to subside. Research studies show that once the patient is off the medication for a certain amount of time, they usually regain the weight that was lost. Are the long-term medical risks worth the short-term benefits for weight loss?

Social media has amplified Ozempic’s popularity, with celebrities and influencers touting their rapid weight loss, sometimes even falsely claiming to follow highly curated fitness regimens for their results. The popularity of the drug as a weight-loss tool has also sparked concerns about reinforcing unrealistic body standards.

Medicalized weight management is reasonable to an extent, however, it detracts from holistic approaches like diet and exercise while simultaneously amplifying the stigma against obesity.

It makes obesity seem like a simple curable disease by ignoring other important factors, such as genetics, environment, mental health and socioeconomic status.

In essence, the Ozempic dilemma highlights the intersection of medicine, ethics and social values. Should it be viewed primarily as a life-changing treatment for diabetes and obesity, or is its rising popularity for weight loss a symptom of society’s obsession with thinness and quick fixes with no regard for long-term consequences?

You’re not better than everyone else because you’re a celebrity Afshan Ara Contributing Writer As much as we care about the works of public figures, we care about their private lives. Owing to the development of technology and media, it has become easier for us to observe celebrities through photos and videos. Many famous people even voluntarily showcase their private lives to the public to engage with them and gain popularity.

However, it is common for public figures to be held to a higher moral standard than the general public. Although some people intentionally set out to tear down public figures who are genuinely apologetic for their wrongdoings, celebrities should still be held to a higher moral standard than the average person due to the nature of their jobs.

Public figures are role models. Many people look up to famous, successful people and are influenced by what they say, wear and do. Many young athletes train with the wish to be like their favorite professional player and are motivated by their stories of dedication and perseverance. Many people pay close attention to the biographies of successful entrepreneurs and politicians in hopes of becoming just as successful. As a result, public figures’ actions and words have a far-reaching impact on the public. This influence is especially so in the case of people who do not already have an established set of moral values, as they are less likely

to be critical of a celebrity’s inappropriate and criminal behavior, and this behavior then becomes at risk of being normalized.

For example, Chris Brown was arrested for assault in 2009 for violence against his then-girlfriend Rihanna.

Although such an incident had little impact on his ability to make music, the public was enraged by his violent conduct, which severely impacted his career as well. Many people are struggling with domestic violence, and if Brown is not criticized or punished for his behavior, it can encourage a culture in which domestic violence is not taken seriously. As much as Brown has the right to revive his career after serving his sentence and paying the price for what he did, the public also has the right to refuse to consume his content as a means of objecting to his misconduct.

We should hold public figures to higher moral standards because they are profiting off the public. For careers that accompany publicity, it is important to secure the likes of the general public to have a successful career. In the case of celebrities, they must maintain a good reputation amongst the public and with their coworkers to continue getting cast. Politicians must keep their popularity to secure enough support to pursue their legislation and policies successfully. Athletes also must maintain their popularity to get recruited, gain sponsorships and develop a fanbase. In this context, if someone’s

actions impact the public, people have all the right not to endorse them. For instance, Lindsay Lohan is infamous for her past DUIs, reckless driving and public feuds with coworkers and staff.

Although it is accepted that her circumstances contributed to her state of mind at the time and she was oftentimes over-criticized, the public still has the right to refuse to consume her work for the things she did. Reckless driving and DUIs can put many people in danger, and mistreating staff can hinder many people’s careers. Public figures gain wealth and prosperity from the people who support them. At the end of the day, everyone is created equal, and popularity does not make them better than everyone else.

Although many celebrities do a good job at separating work and private life, some struggle to do so. This can range from having a bad attitude because of personal struggles and extend to organizational nepotism. For example, Argentine soccer player Mauro Icardi hired his wife Wanda Nara as his sports agent. While Icardi was playing for Inter Milan in Italy, his wife would create continuous disputes by rewriting their contract for a better term.

Nara would also make inappropriate social media and public comments about her husband’s teammates while Icardi remained silent. At first, Inter Milan endured because they couldn’t find a replacement. However, as the new manager, Antonio Conte, made an open statement that Icardi will not

be included in the season’s plan whatsoever, he was instantly removed from the squad despite being at his prime.

Although some might believe that a player has the right to demand better contracts for the work they do and that only their capabilities as an athlete must be considered, such behavior should be criticized. Not only is it unprofessional, but merging one’s private life with work can be an inconvenience to all stakeholders. The board had to suffer with the media coverage, having their season plan ruined and making a replacement in a short period of time— the team was financially unstable and performing poorly back then. For teammates, having a coworker who does not behave professionally can lead to lack of discipline and frustration.

Fans have to suffer from the team’s poor performance, gossip and feelings of betrayal. Professional conduct is required for all types of professions, and we must not get in other people’s way regardless of skill. By establishing rigid standards for public figures and their professionalism, we can remind society about the importance of abiding by the norms.

Celebrities are not better than everyone else and they should be held to the same standards that the general public is expected to follow. Although it is inappropriate for public figures to be subject to irrationally harsh criticism, they should be aware of their impact in society and be held accountable for their actions.

10 Opinion

Friday, March 21, 2025

EDITORIAL

The policing of protest

How much right does our government have to control freedom of expression?

Editorial Board Democracy is defined as a form of government that gives power to the people. But a democracy in which you can get expelled or deported for speaking out against the flawed policies of your country doesn’t quite seem like a democracy, does it? On March 7, the Trump administration sent a letter to Columbia University citing “the cancellation of $400 million dollars in government grants and contracts” since the school allegedly “failed to protect American students from antisemitic violence and harassment in addition to other alleged violations of Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.” This followed Columbia’s wave of encampments protesting the Israel-Hamas War, as students lobbied for peace and divestment from Israel.

While citing antisemitism as the primary factor in the administration’s decision to cancel funding, it seems much more likely that this decision is an attack on higher education and an attempt at censorship. Perhaps it is an effective one because a few days after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested a pro-Palestinian campus activist, Columbia advised non-United States citizens to avoid publishing work on “Gaza, Ukraine and protests related to their former classmate’s arrest.” The Columbia Journalism School’s dean even went as far as to say “Nobody can protect you. These are dangerous times,” further instilling fear about speaking up against the U.S. government. The lawyer of Mahmoud Khalil, the arrested graduate, said ICE told Khalil his green card had been revoked despite the fact that he was a lawful, permanent resident.

Coming from a political administration that supposedly champions a lack of government interference in cherry-picked areas, such as Second Amendment rights and the free market, this letter is quite ironic. Somehow it is acceptable to carry life-threatening weapons in public and for one individual to possess a billion dollars, yet speaking out against a deadly war is somehow criminal. The First Amendment of the Constitution claims that the government will not pass any law to interfere with “freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” President Donald Trump has shown that he does not need to

make any law against the free expression of any of these things. Instead he can simply ignore the law and do as he pleases. Recently, his administration has barred certain media sources from the press pool, banned certain impactful historical media and curricula from schools and libraries and blamed diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives for awful situations that they most certainly had nothing to do with.

So we must ask when has it ever been acceptable for the American government to attempt to intimidate a university into expelling or suspending its own students? That is simply not a decision that the federal government has the right to interfere in without proper, lawful escalation. The government is overstepping its bounds.

By directly targeting Columbia, students are some of the people who suffer most. Partially due to the inflammatory reaction of the U.S. government, reporters have been clamoring to get insider information in any way they can. Currently, the school is locked down, with only those with approval being allowed onto the campus.

While leaving or entering the campus, though, students can still be harassed by reporters. The government has taken away money that could be used to fund valuable research. Trump’s administration has placed a target on everyone associated with the university, unnecessarily sensationalizing a situation and even bullying uninvolved parties, such as students, researchers and staff members.

It seems more likely that the administration is targeting higher education rather than genuine antisemetic sentiments. This is not honest nor democratic, and the administration’s use of Columbia as an example only serves to silence other universities around the country, rendering them vulnerable as their students continue to take the hardest blows. Money is the primary supporting force of a university, especially one so deeply entrenched in research. Take, for instance, our own school. When the news first came out that funding could be significantly cut to Case Western Reserve University, the school went into a panic. The campus community immediately received an email from President Eric Kaler, detailing what these cuts could mean for studies. Knowledge is power, and the current U.S. administration seeks to centralize that power in the hands of the few and wealthy, forcibly snatching it from everyone else.

And universities are not the only institutions being intimidated into silence. The Trump administration has launched investigations into multiple media sources, seeking to intimidate reporters. Among many investigations and claims, some of the more chilling that the Federal Communications Commission or its members have conducted or stated include: making the claim that NBC breached Equal Opportunities rules, threatening investigation of KCBS radio for relaying information on ICE operations in San Jose, California and actually launching investigations into PBS and NPR stations for advertisements without evidence of wrongdoing. Furthermore, even before the presidential election

we saw newspapers that endorsed former President Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election withhold from any sort of endorsement, likely for fear of retribution should Trump come into office.

It is worth noting that this rise of censorship comes as Trump has planned to impose 25% tariffs. In response, Canada’s former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed that the American president has started a trade war, turning the country’s longtime ally against the U.S. and further pushing us into isolation. America is increasingly being cut off from the outside and internally policed. Perhaps that should be enough of an indication to hint at where the country is headed.

The Case Western Reserve Observer Established in 1969 by the undergraduate students of Case Western Reserve University

Shivangi Nanda Executive Editor & Publisher PRINT Elie Aoun Director of Print Vani Subramony News Editor Téa Tamburo News Editor Zachary Treseler News Editor Kate Gordon Life Editor Hannah Johnson Opinion Editor Darcy Chew Sports Editor Sahar Kapasi Copy Editor Ella Lasky Copy Editor Siya Motwani Copy Editor Ellie Palaian Copy Editor Katherine Riley Copy Editor DESIGN Auden Koetters Director of Design Elizabeth McHugh Layout Designer Anjali Bhuthpur Layout Designer Tyler Vu Layout Designer Shareen Chahal Layout Designer Jana Ashour Graphic Designer Lucas Yang Graphic Designer DIGITAL MEDIA Clay Preusch Director of Digital Media & Photo Editor Aambar Agarwal Social Media Manager Shejuti Wahed Social Media Content Creator & Video Editor Kethan Srinivasan Social Media Content Creator Moses Fleischman Web Editor Esha Bagora Social Media Editor BUSINESS Kamila Sattler Sanchez Director of Business Operations

Tyler Vu/The Observer

The Observer is the weekly undergraduate student newspaper of Case Western Reserve University. Established in 1969, The Observer reports news affecting students and provides an editorial forum for the university community. Unsigned editorials are typically written by the opinion editor but reflect the majority opinion of the senior editorial staff. Opinion columns are the views of their writers and not necessarily of The Observer staff. For advertising information, contact The Observer via e-mail at observer@case. edu.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR should be e-mailed to observer@case.edu or submitted on our website at observer.case.edu. Letters can be mailed to Thwing Center 11111 Euclid Avenue, Suite 01, Cleveland, Ohio 44106. For policy and guidelines related to the submission of Letters to the Editor, refer to observer.case.edu/submit-a-letter.

The Observer is a proud member of CWRU’s University Media Board. Follow The Observer on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram @cwruobserver.

Sports

The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, March 21, 2025 observer.case.edu Volume LVI, Issue 22

Softball to open conference play 9-5 after busy regular season, Gross tops program career hits Darcy Chew Sports Editor The Case Western Reserve University softball team has a promising conference season ahead of them.

The 2024 UAA Champions came off of a record 40-9 season and a NCAA World Series appearance and are currently 9-5 after the last couple weeks of their regular season.

Before spring break, the squad participated in the 2025 NFCA Leadoff Classic Tournament hosted in Columbus, Georgia. The tournament welcomed 24 teams with each team playing a total of six teams over the course of the three-day tournament.

The Spartans faced off against No. 1-ranked East Texas Baptist University, No. 2-ranked Linfield University, No. 5-ranked Belhaven University, No. 6-ranked Tufts University, No. 10-ranked Trine University and DePauw University. The then-No. 7-ranked Spartans only fell to Trine 1-2 and finished with a standing of 5-1, upsetting ETBU, Linfield, Belhaven and Tufts.

Graduate student KaiLi Gross shared her favorite moments of the tournament.

“There are two games that come to mind. Beating the number one team in the country. It was a later game … we just used everything that we could. [During] the Belhaven game, we were down by 10 runs and it took a lot from us to come back from that, but like I said, our energy [is] something that we really like to pride ourselves in,” Gross said.

The game against Belhaven was particularly rewarding for the Spartans as they not only avenged their loss to the Blazers in the NCAA fi-

nals last year but also had a stunning comeback after a 10-0 deficit in the third inning.

Over spring break, the team traveled to California for a series of games. Beginning Sunday, March 9, CWRU split their doubleheader against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges, with both teams taking a 5-4 win. The following day, the Spartans split yet another doubleheader with a 6-3 victory over Bethel University and fell 2-4 to Illinois Wesleyan University. On Wednesday, March 12, the Spartans lost both games to the 2025 NFCA Leadoff Classic Champions No. 9-ranked University of Redlands but made their comeback with a pair of wins on Thursday against Haverford College and Whittier College.

“We did have some adversity in California this past week, but we were able to have a team meeting and kind of understand all of our teammates better. I really think that helped us become closer, and then we were able to win our last two games because of that,” Gross commented. “Motivation can come and go, but the habits that we built in the off season that we’ve been training for at practice and putting our full effort into are what’s going to carry us through the highs and lows.”

Following their doubleheader on Thursday, Gross surpassed the previous program record of 218 career hits set by former Spartan Molly O’Brien. Gross currently has an impressive 0.511 batting average with a total of 4 home runs this season.

“It was a really great feeling because my team and I work really hard. For me, I like working hard every day, doing extra reps and everything, so it kind of just spoke to that volume. It was one of my goals,

Graduate student KaiLi Gross has been an integral part of the Spartan softball team this season with a .511 hitting average and 4 home runs. Courtesy of CWRU Athletics personally, to reach and break those records, so it was kind of a relieving feeling,” Gross said.

Gross also commented on the team’s overall goals for the approaching conference season and post season. “[The goal is to] obviously to win the UAA conference. We’re gonna have a tough conference season with WashU and Emory, but just relying on each other and having fun, I

think, is gonna make us successful, and then winning the conference, then going on to postseason. Making the world series would also be an awesome way to end the season,” Gross concluded.

On Friday, the Spartans will begin UAA play with the first game against Washington University in St. Louis slated to begin at 4 p.m. The Bears are currently ranked No. 25 with an overall standing of 13-4.

Men’s basketball from page 1

Fourth-year guard Sam Trunley carried the Spartans basketball team in their last game of the season against Carnegie Mellon, scoring 51 points and breaking two school records.

Courtesy of Tim Phillis/CWRU Athletics

“Trunley was unbelievable … [he] made a lot of tough shots down the stretch to lead us to the win,” Dharmarajan said. “I was really happy to win for our seniors Sam and [fourthyear forward] Umar Rashid; They’re both awesome teammates and really good basketball players and they deserved to end their college career on a win.”

With the tipoff of the game, CWRU came in with a bang as Dharmarajan scored a 3-pointer within the first 20 seconds of the first half. This was followed with layups from Dharmarajan, Trunley and graduate guard Christian McDaniel. The Spartans held the lead for several minutes before the Tartans went on to take the lead with 16:07 left in the first quarter. This lead was short-lived, however, as within seconds fourth-year forward Andrew Fox scored a hook shot to put the Spartans back on top, 11-10. While CMU was able to close the gap to as narrow as 2 points at multiple times, they were never able to reclaim the lead during the period.

By the end of the first half, the score was at 60-52, with 24 points courtesy of Trunley and 19 coming from Dharmarajan.

The Spartans kept the momentum going into the second half, as less

than a minute into the period McDaniel scored a layup, putting CWRU at a 10-point lead over CMU. For the remainder of the game, the score remained neck and neck, as the Tartans and Spartans kept going back and forth for possession and shots; CMU managed to bring the score to a 96-96 tie with 5:22 left in the game. Trunley ended the tie less than 20 seconds later, giving CWRU a lead that remained for the remainder of the game.

CWRU finished the game with a shooting record of 50.7% (36-71) overall and 45.5% (15-33) from long range. The 110 points scored by the Spartans mark a season high, as well as the most points they scored in a single game since scoring 111 against John Carroll in 2021. The Spartans held the lead for all but 96 seconds of the entire game, including a mere 36 seconds during which they were trailing the Tartans.

With this game marking the conclusion of the 2024-25 season for the Spartans, Dharmarajan noted several goals he has for the team come next season. “[The] goals for next season are to get this program back to where we’ve been in the last couple years. We want to win the UAA and get back in the NCAA tournament,” he said.

12 Sports

Scores and Upcoming Games

Baseball

CWRU at Derby City Classic CWRU vs Millikin (3/1) - W 12-8 CWRU at Spalding (3/1) - W 7-5 CWRU vs Ohio Northern (3/2) - L 6-10 CWRU at Spartan Southern Classic CWRU vs Swarthmore (3/8) - L 5-9 CWRU vs Baldwin Wallace (3/9) - W 8-3 CWRU vs Arcadia (3/10) - W 10-6 CWRU vs Ithaca (3/11) - W 11-9 CWRU vs Swarthmore (3/11) - W 9-3 CWRU vs Swarthmore (3/13) - W 5-3

Friday, March 21, 2025

Men’s Tennis

CWRU vs Mary Hardin-Baylor (3/9) - W 7-0 CWRU vs Wittenberg (3/9) - W 7-0 CWRU vs Piedmont (3/9) - W 7-0 CWRU vs Hampden-Sydney (3/11) - W 7-0 CWRU vs Franklin and Marshall (3/11) - W 7-0 CWRU at UAA Indoor Championships CWRU vs Skidmore (3/11) - W 7-0 (3/1-2) CWRU vs Carthage (3/12) - W 7-0 Men’s team: 5th of 7 teams (48.0 points) CWRU vs Transylvania (3/12) - W 7-0 Women’s team: 4th of 7 teams (55.0 points) CWRU vs Kenyon (3/12) - W 4-3

Track and Field

CWRU at Polar Bear Last Chance (3/8) No team scoring

Women’s Basketball

CWRU vs Wittenberg (3/14) - W 12-11 CWRU vs Johnson & Wales (3/15) - W 16-4 CWRU at Marietta (3/15) - L 3-10

CWRU at NCAA Indoor Championships (3/14-15) - No team scoring

CWRU at Carnegie Mellon (3/1) - L 46-70

W&L Track Carnival (3/21-22)

CWRU at John Carroll (3/23)

Women’s Tennis

CWRU at NFCA Leadoff Classic CWRU vs DePauw (2/28) - W 10-2 CWRU vs East Texas Baptist (2/28) - W 6-5 CWRU vs Linfield (3/1) - W 2-1 CWRU vs Trine (3/1) - L 1-2 CWRU vs Tufts (3/2) - W 6-4 CWRU vs Belhaven (3/2) - W 15-13

Men’s Basketball

CWRU at Carnegie Mellon (3/1) - W 110-104

Wrestling

CWRU at DePauw (3/1) - W 7-0 CWRU at Grinnell (3/2) - W 7-0

CWRU at Christopher Newport (3/21) CWRU vs NYU (3/22) CWRU vs Johns Hopkins (3/23)

Softball

CWRU at NCAA Diving Central Regional (2/28-3/1) - No team scoring

CWRU at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (3/9) - W 5-4 CWRU at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (3/9) - L 4-5 CWRU vs Bethel (3/10) - W 6-3 CWRU vs Illinois Wesleyan (3/10) - L 2-4 CWRU at Redlands (3/12) - L 6-8 CWRU at Redlands (3/12) - L 2-10 CWRU vs Haverford (3/13) - W 12-5 CWRU at Whittier (3/13) - W 3-1

CWRU at NCAA Championships (3/19-22)

CWRU at WashU (3/21-22)

CWRU at NCAA Region V Tournament (2/28-3/1) - 11th of 17 teams (45.5 points)

Swimming and Diving